Estes Park Sports

The best seat without a view is at Walt Weiss' desk in the Rockies' clubhouse. Behind him hangs a framed picture of Weiss. It's from 18 years ago, which is obvious by "the cabbage on my head," he said. Weiss is holding his No. 22 jersey, the same one he pulled on again for the home opener Friday, and standing next to Bruce Springsteen.

The day that snapshot was taken, Weiss locked up. Couldn't talk. But the photo now speaks volumes about not only Weiss, but the identity he craves from his team.

He wants rock 'n' roll, baseball played at altitude with the ear-puncturing roar of an electric guitar. Still, the lineup's riff becomes nothing more than background noise without starting pitchers capable of providing the power ballad.

Rockies manager Walt Weiss observes from the dugout at Coors Field on Friday. (Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post)

Before a sellout crowd dotted in purple, Jeff Francis' slow rhythm complemented the lineup's continued drum beat in a 5-2 home-opening victory over San Diego.

"We know we don't have to be perfect as pitchers," Francis said. "If we keep the game within one, two, even three runs, we like our chances."

Beginning in spring training, hitting instructor Dante Bichette and Weiss told the Rockies that they would hit. In Denver. On the road. Anywhere Siri could provide directions. They have begun the season swinging hammers, batting .353 with 10 home runs and a .565 slugging percentage. Wilin Rosario and Dexter Fowler homered Friday, Fowler's team-high third blast hitting the second deck facade.

"We know we are going to swing it. But we have guys that can pitch too. They wouldn't be here if they couldn't," Fowler said. "We have a lot of confidence in those guys."

That faith, while blind to outsiders, has been rewarded.

It began on opening day with Chacin and continued with Francis. Let's be honest, Friday's announced crowd of 49,077 was not expecting this. Last year's rotation was a stranger to cheers. Francis emerged from the maze and mess as the team's most reliable starter. After enjoying the best spring of his career, he was "an obvious choice" for the home opener, Weiss said.

Rockies starting pitcher Jeff Francis delivers Friday at Coors Field. Francis allowed one run on five hits with one walk in six innings. (Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post)

Francis was version 2.0 on Friday. He's always had software, but he's added a few apps. To explain why the Padres swung wildly, frequently, numbers will suffice: Francis threw 97 pitches — 50 fastballs, 26 curveballs, including eight to rookie Jedd Gyorko, and 21 changeups. He allowed one run in six innings. To put that in perspective, the Rockies' starters allowed one run or less seven times at home last season.

"If Jeff could have drawn up the game, I think that's how it would have looked," Padres manager Bud Black said. "A lot of different speeds."

The veteran left-hander stands in stark contrast to the offense that supported him. There's no fist to the windpipe; more like death by feather pillow.

Photos: Rockies

"The faster the hitters get, the slower he gets," catcher Rosario said.

Francis hit 88 mph on his fastball and 76 mph on his changeup, and his curveball plummeted to 64 mph on his breaking ball. Black said he's not sure he's ever seen Francis throw a better curve. Weiss summed it up in one word: "Huge."

Francis's curve changed the complexion of the game in the third inning. The Rockies were tailing 1-0, and the Padres were threatening with runners at first and third. Gyorko, a spring sensation, waved helplessly at a 69 mph curve — his weakness was identified after the Padres' opening series against the Mets — defusing the rally.

"Jeff got out of trouble like he does and then came their mistake. We have talked at length about making teams pay," Weiss said.

Troy Tulowitzki doubled in two runs. Fowler and Rosario homered, drawing the life out of the Padres. This was just one game, Weiss reminded. Yet it stood in stark contrast to last season's home-opener, a 7-0 buzz-kill loss to the Giants.

Last year, the Rockies stood in first place exactly zero days. They awoke in first place Saturday, which definitely strikes a chord.

"We want to intimidate teams here," Weiss said. "This can be one of the best home-field advantages in the game."

Rockies Rewind

The Rockies' redemption tour started in Milwaukee and rambled into Denver on Friday with Jeff Francis collaring the Padres in the 5-2 home-opening victory over the Padres. "It was a lot of fun. You can feel the energy of the crowd," Francis said. "It started with Chacin on opening day. We know we can pitch, and if we keep the offense within a couple of runs, we like our chances."

Turning point. The Padres' defense opened the door for the Rockies' lineup to shift into high gear in the third inning. Shortstop Everth Cabrera juggled Josh Rutledge's slow groundball, the two-out error leading to three runs.

"We smelled blood and took advantage of it," special assistant Vinny Castilla said. "That's what good teams do."

On the mound. Francis worked six innings, allowing only one run on 97 pitches. Adam Ottavino spared the bullpen, handing the ball to closer Rafael Betancourt. That leaves the Rockies with a full complement of relievers for the weekend.

At the plate. Lost in the gaudy statistics, Wilin Rosario was unplugged last April. He hit one home run. He sits at two this year after crushing a Jason Marquis fastball to left field in the fourth inning. Rosario finished 2012 with 28 home runs, second among rookies to Mike Trout.

What it means. Respectability hinges on the Rockies' offense. First-year manager Walt Weiss wants opposing pitchers to feel vulnerable at Coors Field. That line of thinking makes a lot more sense when the Rockies' starting pitcher can prevent the lineup from battling uphill.